DENVER – Coloradans Against Auto Theft and Colorado Auto Theft Investigators once again teamed up for this year’s “Puffer Week.”

The week-long statewide awareness and enforcement push aims to educate the public about the risks, dangers and heightened crime associated with auto theft, specifically “puffers” – cars left running unattended.

DENVER (CBS4) – A man is searching for his dog that was stolen along with his van. He wanted to tell his story so that other people won’t leave their cars running, or “puffing,” when it’s cold.

Scott Hills has blanketed the area where his van was stolen with signs and pictures of his dog, Arrow. He’s offering a $100 reward just to get his dog back. He says the van isn’t even important to him — it’s Arrow that matters most.

DENVER – Three Denver schools briefly enacted security protocols while Denver Police searched the area for suspects who abandoned a stolen vehicle.

The car was dumped along South Sheridan Boulevard, south of West Yale Avenue. Officers believe the suspects left the vehicle and ran off on foot, Denver Police Spokesman Sonny Jackson explained at 8:20 a.m.

Jackson also said the stolen vehicle was a puffer, a car left running unattended — which is illegal.

It’s a frigid northern Colorado winter morning and the temperature hovers close to zero.

In order to give the seat warmers a chance to get nice and toasty, you turn on the car and walk back inside to drink the cinnamon mocha cappuccino brewing on the Keurig. Convenient, but you run the risk of returning to an empty driveway and tire tracks heading up the street and around the corner.

About Lockdown

Coloradans Against Auto Theft is a coalition of law enforcement agencies, insurance partners, LoJack and AAA Colorado. CAAT and the state auto theft task force efforts are funded in part by the Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority (CATPA). CAAT was created to promote the cumulative statewide efforts in the prevention of auto theft.